Ahmadiyya

The Ahmadiyya movement is a sect of Islam founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi. The religious movement's base was Punjab, the origin of its leaders, and the community sees itself as leading the true and peaceful version of Islam that Muhammad preached, not extremism like other sects. Adherents believe that Ahmad appeared in the likeness of Jesus to end religious wars and reinstitute morality, justice, and peace. Since his death, his successors have been called "caliphs", leading the community in 200 countries and frequently expanding the faith. Many orthodox Muslims consider Ahmadis to be heretics, and Pakistani dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq passed laws against the Ahmadiyya. As a result, the Ahmadiyya were based out of England and India instead.